Flashlight construction



P 16, 1953 E. J. GARLAND FLASHLIGHT CONSTRUCTION Filed July 5, 1955INVENTOR EdwardcZGarZand ,Zimlt ATTORNEYS United rates ateht FLASHLHGHEC(JNSTRUQTION Edward 3i. Garland, Shrewshury, Mass., assignor, by mesneassignments, to The Electric Storage Battery (Iompany, mailer-dolphin,Pa, a corporation or New .lersey Application July 5, 1955, Serial No.519,810

6 Claims. (CL Edd-40.66)

This invention relates to a novel electrical switching mechanism, andparticularly to a novel electrical switch ing mechanism adapted for usewith a tubular flashlight casing.

Flashlights now commonly in use are customarily provided with apush-button type of switch. in a common type of switch, it is usuallynecessary to depress a small button in order to complete the electricalcircuit. A slide may then be advanced generally toward the front end ofthe flashlight to lock the button in the depressed position and keep thecircuit of the flashlight in a closed position, for provision of a beamof light continuously. A major disadvantage of switches of this typeresides in the difliculty of locating and maneuvering the switch in thedarkness, and in emergency situations generally.

A principal object of the present invention is to pro vide a novel typeof flashlight switching mechanism which will be very easy to locate andoperate in the darkness and under other disadvantageous conditions.Another object of this invention is to provide a switch for a flashlightwhich is a major feature in the silhouette or contour of the flashlight,readily discernible to the touch and upon visual inspection, and whichmay be a desirable and attractive feature in the appearance of theflashlight casing. Still another object of the invention is to provide aring switch for a tubular flashlight casing which is operated byrotation of the ring, and which is so constructed as to lock in eitherthe on or the off position.

These and other objects of the invention which will become more readilyapparent from the following description, are achieved by providing atubular flashlight casing with a rotatable ring adjacent the head of theflashlight casing. Seated within the ring are a plurality of bearings,alternately conductive and non-conductive, which bear against the ringand the wall of the flashlight casing. At one point on the circumferenceof the wall of the casing, an electrical contact strip is exposed tocontact with the bearings through an aperture in the wall. The contactstrip may be in electrical contact with the top terminal of the foremostdry cell in the casing, through electrical connections through the lampholder and the reflector assembly. The rotating ring is desirably inelectrical connection with the base terminal of the rearmost dry cell ofthe flashlight through contact of a bottom spring in the casing with thebottom of the dry cell. Controlled rotation of the ring may bring anyone of the conductive bearings, individually, into electrical connectionwith the exposed contact strip, thereby allowing completion of theelectrical circuit and energizing the flashlight.

The familiar advantage of locking the switch in either the on or the offposition may be obtained by providing a recessed seat in, and aspring-bias for, the contact strip. '1 he engagement between the bearingseated within the contoured recess in the contact strip and the recessedseat in the ring provides resistance to any undesired rotation of thering.

The many advantages of the ring switch of this invention, and thedetails of its construction, may be best understood by reference to thedrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a flashlight assembly containingthe ring switch of this invention, in partial section;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the tubular flashlight casingIt may be of a conventional type opening at the lens end only, uponremoval of the lens cap 3. Within the flashlight casing there may bedisposed in conventional relationship a reflector assembly 4 containinga light bulb and a contact base 5, making electrical contact with thetop terminal of a conventional dry cell 6A. Electrical contact with thebase terminal of the rearmost dry cell 63 is provided through a contactspring 7, which is also in electrical contact with the flashlightcasing 1. Although the flashlight casing 1 may be constructed of anydesired conductive material, the preferred material is a sheet metalsusceptible of a high polish on the exterior for an attractiveappearance, and coated with copper on its interior surface for enhancedelectrical conductivity. The flashlight casing may also be constructedof nonconductive synthetic plastic materials, where suitable provisionis made for electrical contact between the proper elements of the switchmechanism and the base terminal of the rear dry cell.

The exterior electrical connection between the base terminal of the rearcell 6B and the top terminal of the front cell 6A is completed throughthe switching mechanism of this invention, a preferred embodiment ofwhich is illustrated in partial section in Fig. 1. In this embodiment ofthe invention, the undersurface of the reflector bowl 4 is copper-coatedand is in electrical contact with one terminal of the light bulb, theother terminal of the light bulb being in electrical connection with theterminal of the front dry cell 6A. The copper coating on the reflectorbowl thus is an integral part of the electrical switch circuit. Apermanently positioned springlike electrical connector 9 providesresilient contact with a conductive metal such as a copper coating onthe undersurface of the reflector bowl, and extends rearwardly into thetubular casing, where it is securely positioned by a pair of rivets 19which bridge the rotatable ring and its associated elements. Theelectrical connector 9 is insulated from the casing by an interposedfiber strip 11 which is secured in position on the electrical connector9 by a pair of rivets 12. The bridging rivets 10 may also be employed tosecure the fiber strip 11 in position where it extends into the casingadjacent the switch mechaniism. If desired, an additional fiber strip 13may also be secured by the rivets on the inner surface of the electricalconnector 9, to prevent accidental electrical contacts of an undesirednature, and to shield and support the electrical connector 9.

At one point on the periphery of the flashlight casing l, the wall ofthe casing is apertured, and the electrical connector 9 is bent upwardlyand outwardly through the aperture to form a struck-up contact strip 19.At this point the fiber insulating strip 11 is also apertured so as toprovide unrestricted movement of the contact strip 19 through theaperture in the flashlight casing. The electrical connector member 9 isdesirably manufactured of a resilient metal, so that the struck-upcontact strip 19 is spring-biased outwardly with respect to theflashlight casing. The contact strip 19 is insulated from electricalcontact with the casing by the interposition at all points around theaperture of the fiber insulating strip 11.

Electrical contact between the rotatable ring 15 and the struck-upcontact strip 19 is accomplished by the movement of a conductive bearing20 into seating engagement with a recessed portion 21 in the contactstrip 19. Electrical contact between the rotatable ring and theflashlight casing 1 is accomplished through: contact of other conductivebearings spaced around the ring with the exterior surface of theflashlight casing, and also through contact between the lateral flanges26' of the rotatable ring and the'underlying wall of the casing. Thebearings are preferablyspherical bearings seated within semi-sphericalrecesses 23 in the rotatable ring 15. In order to provide a positive offposition forthe rotatable ring l5, it is preferred thatthe-conductivebearings 2ft alternate with:-non-conduetive bearings- 24.Thus, when a non-conductive bearing 24 is in seating engagement With.the-struck-up contact strip19, the electrical circuit will be open-andthe flashlight will-be off. A positive locking action against undesiredor accidentalrotationof the ring 15- is provided when-eithera conductiveor a non-conductive. bearing is seatedwithin the struck-up contact strip19.

Inorder to operate thetflashlightswitch, the rotatable ring 15 may berotated. ineithera clockwiseor counterclockwise direction. Since the.non-conductive bearings are. alternatively arranged. .with theconductive. bearings, rotation of the ring in either direction to thenext adjacent. bearing will. provide. a changel in. the switch.position. As illustrated. in Fig; 2, apreferred. number of bearings forconstruction of the. switch is..6 bearings, comprising threeelectrically conductive spheres, and 3 electrically non-conductivespheres. However, the switch. could be constructed with a lesser or agreater number of. bearings, as desired.

Longitudinal movement of the ,rotatable ring 15 relativeto; theflashlight casing 1 may be restrained by the. abutment of the lateralflanges 26. of the rotatable ring against the bridging rivets 10,whichmay protrude above the surface of the flashlight casing. Thestabilityof. the. rotatable ring may be increased by providinganadditional pairof abutment, rivets 27 on the opposite side of theflanges 26 ofthe r'otatablering against these rivets further confinesthe ring in position andstaoilizes itsmovement.

ferred form of constructiomand many modifications will occur to thoseskilled in the art which are within the scope of this invention. Forexample, the electrical connector strip 9, and the struck-up contactstrip 19 illustrated in-section inFig. 1, could be duplicated at one ormore points around the periphery of the flashlight. The addition of. oneor more duplicate connectors and contact strips within a singleflashlight casing would decrease the resistance in the electrical.circuit of the flashlight and would minimize the effects of. wear andlong usageon any individual contact strip. In a similar modification ofthe invention, the struck-up resilient contact strip 19 could beelectrically connected to the base terminal of the rear dry cell in theflashlight casing, if desired, with the rotatable ring being insulatedfrom the casing and electrically connected to the reflector bowl. Thiswould merely reverse the arrangement already described but would operatequite efliciently.

While the arrangement of alternating the conductive bearings withnon-conductive bearings is preferred for household flashlights. it isnot necessary that the bearings be arranged in alternating sequence. Infact for some purposes, such as visual signaling or the transmission oflight messages by Morse code irregular sequences of nonconductive andconductive bearings may be utilized to provide for dots and dashes.

Throughout this specification and in some claims the bearings 29 and 7.4have been described as spherical or circular in cross-section. It shouldbe understood that this latter expression defines and is intended todefine cylindrical hearings or rollers which may be either tapered -10casing to the bridging rivets 10. The abutment of the or trulycylindrical in shape, such rollers being seated in recesses adapted-totheir individual shapes. It should also be understood that theexpression circular in cross section defines and is intended to definebearings 20 and 24 which are less than complete spheres, for example,hemispheres or otherwise truncated spheres, which possess a rounded,slidable surface adapted to cooperate with the recess 21 in strip 19,the plane or truncated faces of such bearings being appropriately seatedin the ring 15.

I claim:

1. An electrical switch mechanism comprising an electrically conductivetubular supporting member having an electrical contact strip insulatedtherefrom disposed thereon, a ring rotatably mounted around and inelectrical contact with said tubular supporting member and havingdisposed therein a plurality of annularly disposed spherical bearingssome of which are conductive and some non-conductive, each of saidbearings being individually movable into engagement with said contactstrip upon rotation of said ring, whereby positive control is providedover the electrical connection between said tubular supporting memberand said contact strip.

2. An electrical switch mechanism for a flashlight comprising a metallictubular casing having an electrical contact strip disposed therein,insulated therefrom, and exposed through an aperture therein, saidelectrical contact strip being spring-biased outwardly with respect tosaid casing, a ring rotatably mounted around and in electrical contactwith said tubular casing, said ring having seated in spaced relationtherein a plurality of circumferentiallydisposed spherical bearings, thesaid bearings comprising conductive bearings alternating withnon-conductive bearings, eachof said bearings being movable intoindividual seating engagement with-a contoured recess in said contactstrip upon rotation of said ring, whereby positive control is providedover the electrical connection between said contact strip and saidcasing.

3. An electrical switch mechanism for a flashlight comprising a metallictubular casing having an electrical contact strip disposed therein,insulated therefrom, and exposed through an aperture therein, saidcontact strip being spring-biased outwardly with respect to said casing,a cylindrical ring rotatably mounted around and in electrical contactwith said tubular casing, said ring having seated in spaced relationtherein a plurality of circumferentially-disposed bearings of circularcross-section, the said bearings comprising non-conductive bearingsalternatingwithconductive bearings, each of said bearings being--movab.lc; into' individual seating engagement with a contoured recessin said contact strip upon rotation of said ring, whereby positive.control over the electrical connectionsbetween said contact; strip andsaid casing is obtained, and undesired rotation of said ring isdeterred, by seating engagement between'the seated bearing and thecontoured recess in said contact strip.

4. A flashlight having a ring switch, comprising a metallic tubularcasing enclosing a dry cell and making electrical contact with oneterminalv thereof, said casing supporting a lightbulb, the filament ofsaid light bulb being electrically connected at one terminal thereof tothe opposite terminal of said dry cell and at the opposite terminalthereof to an electrical contact strip disposed within said casing andinsulated therefrom, said contact strip being exposed through anaperture in said casingand springbiased outwardly with respect to saidcasing through said aperture, a ring rotatably mounted around and inelectrical contact with said tubular casing, said rotatable ring havingseatedin-spaced relation therein a plurality of annularly disposed.bearings which are circular in cross section and which compriseconductive and nonconductive bearings arranged in desired sequence andmovable seriatim intoelectrical connection with said contact strip uponrotation, ofsaid ring, whereby an electrical connection may be made. orbroken between the opposite terminals of said, cell and said filamentmay be energized or deessence d energized, the individual bearing inelectrical connection with said contact strip seating Within a contouredrecess in said strip and thereby deterring undesired rotation of saidring.

5. A flashlight having a ring switch, comprising a metallic tubularcasing enclosing a dry cell and making electrical contact with oneterminal thereof, said casing supporting a light bulb, the filament ofsaid bulb being electrically connected at one terminal thereof to theopposite terminal of said dry cell and at the opposite terminal. thereofto an electrical contact strip disposed within said casing and insulatedtherefrom, said contact strip being exposed through an aperture in saidcasing and springbiased outwardly with respect to said casing throughsaid aperture, a cylindrical ring rotatably mounted around 15 and inelectrical contact with said tubular casing, said ring having seated inspaced relation therein a plurality of circumferentially-disposed balls,said balls comprising non-conductive balls and conductive balls arrangedin desired sequence, said balls being movable into individual seatingengagement with a contoured recess in said contact strip upon rotationof said ring, whereby positive control is obtained over the electricalconnection between the opposite terminals of said cell.

6. An electrical switch mechanism comprising an elec- 25 tricallyconductive tubular supporting member having an electrical contact stripinsulated therefrom and disposed thereon, a ring rotatably mountedaround and in electrical contact with said tubular supporting member andhaving disposed therein a plurality of annularly disposed bearingshaving circular cross-sections some of which bearings are conductive andsome non-conductive, each of said bearings being individually movableinto engagement with said contact strip upon rotation of said ring,whereby positive control is provided over the electrical connectionbetween said tubular supporting member and said contact strip.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES EATENTS976,345 Cooper Nov. 22, 1910 1,122,446 Wachtel Dec. 29, 1914 2,020,352Bolduc Nov. 12, 1935 2,225,936 Williams Dec. 24, 1940 2,339,356 SachsJan. 18, 1944 2,503,287 Moore Apr. 11, 1950 2,518,039 Malki et a1 Aug.8, 1950 2,769,896 Lambert Nov. 6, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 28,834 GreatBritain of 1913

